Segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3d display device and method

ABSTRACT

A segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D display device may includes an image panel that displays a left image and a right image so as to alternately display a left-image column and a right-image column; a dual layer parallax barrier that includes a first common electrode, a second common electrode, a plurality of first individual electrodes, a plurality of second individual electrodes, a plurality of segmented electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer, and blocks specific portions of the displayed images; and a driving unit that drives the electrodes based on the distance between the image panel and the viewer so as to allow the viewer to view the left image and the right image, separately.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C 119(a) to KoreanApplication Nos. 10-2011-0059807, filed on Jun. 20, 2011, and10-2012-0064281, filed on Jun. 15, 2012, in the Korean intellectualproperty Office, which are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a 3D display device and method, andmore particularly, to a glassless 3D display device and method using asegmented dual layer parallax barrier, which provides different modesaccording to the distance between an observer and a screen.

BACKGROUND ART

Regarding a glassless 3D display method, Parallax Stereogram wasproposed by F. E Ives of the United States in 1903. In ParallaxStereogram, a left image and a right image area alternately arranged atan appropriate distance on the rear surface of a parallax barrier toseparate the left and right images and allow a viewer to view astereoscopic image. More specifically, in the 3D display method usingthe parallax barrier, thin stripe vertical slits for transmitting orshielding light are arranged at regular intervals and left and rightimages are alternately disposed at the front or back of the slits by anappropriate interval, and as a result, the left and right images aregeometric-optically split when the image is viewed through the slit at apredetermined point of time, thus causing the viewer to acquire thecubic effect. That is, a stripe parallax barrier optical plate servingas special glasses is installed in front of a monitor screen to allowthe viewer to recognize the stereoscopic image without wearing theglasses.

However, the glassless 3D display method using the parallax barrier hasa disadvantage that the viewing position is fixed. That is, the left andright images are split only when the observer is positioned at aspecific distance from the screen, and hence the observer cannot view a3D image if they move out of the viewing position. Accordingly, therewas proposed a method that presents two modes using a dual layerparallax barrier in order to provide various viewing positions. Theproposed method is disclosed in Korean Patent Unexamined Publication No.10-2007-0023849, in which a barrier electrode is divided into aplurality of fine barrier electrodes, and the fine barrier electrodesare combined and driven according to positions of an observer to providean optical viewing angle. However, this method has the disadvantage thatcrosstalk may be generated because part of light is transmitted throughthe gaps between the fine barrier electrodes, and this may result inlower 3D quality. Moreover, FPCs (Flexible Printed Circuits) becomeexpensive, and it is difficult to perform bonding.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Unexamined Publication No.    10-2007-0023849 titled “Optical Viewing Angle Stereoscopic Image    Display” by NDIS Corporation (field on Mar. 2, 2007)

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The present invention has been made in consideration of theabove-mentioned circumstances. Accordingly, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a dual layer parallax barrier-based 3Ddisplay device, which uses a dual layer parallax barrier, minimizesmanufacturing costs by using segmented electrodes, and minimizesdiscontinuity occurring during movement between barriers, therebyreducing crosstalk and achieving a smooth glassless stereoscopic imageaccording to viewing distance and position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dual layerparallax barrier-based 3D display method, which uses a dual layerparallax barrier, minimizes manufacturing costs by using segmentedelectrodes, and minimizes discontinuity occurring during movementbetween barriers, thereby reducing crosstalk and achieving a smoothglassless stereoscopic image according to viewing distance and position.

Means for Solving the Problems

To achieve the above-described objects of the present invention, thereis provided a segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D displaydevice according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the3D display device including: an image panel that displays a left imageand a right image so as to alternately display a left-image column and aright-image column; a dual layer parallax barrier that includes a firstcommon electrode, a second common electrode, a plurality of firstindividual electrodes, a plurality of second individual electrodes, aplurality of segmented electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer, andblocks specific portions of the displayed images; and a driving unitthat drives the electrodes based on the distance between the image paneland the viewer so as to allow the viewer to view the left image and theright image, separately.

The segmented electrodes may include a first segmented electrode, asecond segmented electrode, a third segmented electrode, and a fourthsegmented electrode.

The dual layer parallax barrier may operate as Normally White in whichthe liquid crystal layer blocks light when a voltage is applied to theelectrodes.

The dual layer parallax barrier may operate as Normally Black in whichthe liquid crystal layer transmits light when a voltage is applied tothe electrodes.

The driving unit, in the first state, may apply a driving voltagebetween the second common electrode and the third segmented electrode,and apply a driving voltage between the second common electrode and thesecond individual electrodes.

The driving unit, in the second state, may apply a driving voltagebetween the second common electrode and the second segmented electrodes,and apply a driving voltage between the second common electrode and thefourth segmented electrodes.

The driving unit, in the third state, may apply a driving voltagebetween the first common electrode and the first segmented electrode,and apply a driving voltage between the first common electrode and thefirst individual electrodes.

The driving unit, in the fourth state, may apply a driving voltagebetween the first common electrode and the first individual electrodes,and apply a driving voltage between the first common electrode and thesecond segmented electrode.

The dual layer parallax barrier is characterized in that the firstcommon electrode and the second common electrode are positioned on theoutermost portions of opposite sides with respect to the liquid crystallayer, the plurality of first individual electrodes are positioned onthe opposite side of the first common electrode with respect to theliquid crystal layer, and the plurality of second individual electrodesare positioned on the opposite side of the second common electrode withrespect to the liquid crystal layer.

The dual layer parallax barrier is characterized in that the firstsegmented electrode is positioned at the left side of the firstindividual electrodes, the second segmented electrode is positioned atthe right side of the first individual electrodes, the third segmentedelectrode is positioned at the left side of the second individualelectrodes, and the fourth segmented electrode is positioned at theright side of the second individual electrodes.

To achieve the above-described objects of the present invention, thereis provided a segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D displaymethod according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, themethod including: displaying a left image and a right image so as toalternately display a left-image column and a right-image column;driving the electrodes of a dual layer parallax barrier based on thedistance between the image panel and the viewer so as to allow theviewer to view the left image and the right image, separately; blockingspecific portions of the displayed image under the control of thedriving unit by the dual layer parallax barrier that includes a firstcommon electrode, a second common electrode, a plurality of firstindividual electrodes, a plurality of second individual electrodes, aplurality of segmented electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer.

The segmented electrodes may include a first segmented electrode, asecond segmented electrode, a third segmented electrode, and a fourthsegmented electrode.

The dual layer parallax barrier may operate as Normally White in whichthe liquid crystal layer blocks light when a voltage is applied to theelectrodes.

The dual layer parallax barrier may operate as Normally Black in whichthe liquid crystal layer transmits light when a voltage is applied tothe electrodes.

In the driving of the electrodes, in the first state, a driving voltagemay be applied between the second common electrode and the thirdsegmented electrode, and a driving voltage may be applied between thesecond common electrode and the second individual electrodes.

In the driving of the electrodes, in the second state, a driving voltagemay be applied between the second common electrode and the secondsegmented electrodes, and a driving voltage may be applied between thesecond common electrode and the fourth segmented electrodes.

In the driving of the electrodes, in the third state, a driving voltagemay be applied between the first common electrode and the firstsegmented electrode, and a driving voltage may be applied between thefirst common electrode and the first individual electrodes.

In the driving of the electrodes, in the fourth state, a driving voltagemay be applied between the first common electrode and the firstindividual electrodes, and a driving voltage may be applied between thefirst common electrode and the second segmented electrode.

The dual layer parallax barrier is characterized in that the firstcommon electrode and the second common electrode are positioned on theoutermost portions of opposite sides with respect to the liquid crystallayer, the plurality of first individual electrodes are positioned onthe opposite side of the first common electrode with respect to theliquid crystal layer, and the plurality of second individual electrodesare positioned on the opposite side of the second common electrode withrespect to the liquid crystal layer.

The dual layer parallax barrier is characterized in that the firstsegmented electrode is positioned at the left side of the firstindividual electrodes, the second segmented electrode is positioned atthe right side of the first individual electrodes, the third segmentedelectrode is positioned at the left side of the second individualelectrodes, and the fourth segmented electrode is positioned at theright side of the second individual electrodes.

Advantageous Effect

According to the above-stated dual layer parallax barrier-based 3Ddisplay device and method according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, a dual layer parallax barrier and segmentedelectrodes are used to provide four types of state transitions, which istwo more than the two types of state transitions provided in aconventional dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D display device andmethod.

Accordingly, the dual layer parallax barrier operates so as tocorrespond to relevant states according to viewing distance and positionwithout a significant increase in manufacturing costs, and thisminimizes discontinuity occurring during movement between barriers,thereby reducing crosstalk and achieving a natural and continuousglassless stereoscopic image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is as block diagram showing the configuration of a multilayerparallax barrier-based 3D display device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a 3D display device based on a dual layerparallax barrier according to the conventional art;

FIG. 3 shows the state of the dual layer parallax barrier of FIG. 2according to a driving voltage applied according to the conventionalart;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a segmented dual layer parallaxbarrier-based 3D display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 shows the state of the segmented dual layer parallax barrier ofFIG. 4 according to a driving voltage applied according to an exemplarembodiment of the present invention, in the case that the method oftransmitting light by liquid crystals when no voltage is applied isemployed; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based3D display method according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be variably modified and may have variousembodiments, particular examples of which will be illustrated indrawings and described in detail.

However, the present invention is not limited to the specificembodiments and should be construed as including all the changes,equivalents, and substitutions included in the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

In the description of the embodiments of the present specification, ifdetailed descriptions of related well-known constructions or functionsare determined to make the gist of the present invention unclear, thedetailed descriptions will be omitted.

Terms such as ‘first, ‘second’, etc. can be used to describe variouscomponents, but the components are not limited to the terms. Termsdescribed in the specification are used to discriminate one componentfrom other components. For example, the first component may be calledthe second component without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Likewise, the second component may be called the firstcomponent. The term “and/or” includes a combination of a plurality ofrelated and described items or any one of a plurality of related anddescribed items.

When any components are “connected” or “coupled” to other components, itis to be understood that the components may be directly connected orcoupled to other components, but there is another componenttherebetween. On the other hand, when any components are “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to other components, it is to beunderstood that there is no other component therebetween.

The terms used in the present application are merely used to describe aparticular exemplary embodiment, and are not intended to limit theinventive concept. Use of singular forms includes plural references aswell unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “comprising”,“including”, and “having” specify the presence of stated features,numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and/or a combinationthereof but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and/or acombination thereof.

Components shown in embodiments of the present invention areindependently illustrated to represent different characteristicfunctions, and such illustration shall not imply that each componentincludes a separate hardware or software component. Namely, eachcomponent comprises an array of individual components for convenience ofdescription. A combination of at least two of the individual componentsmay comprise a single component, or a single component may be dividedinto a plurality of components to perform the functions. All combined orseparate implementations of these components are contemplated as fallingwithin the scope of the invention unless departing from the essentialcharacteristics of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical orscientific terms, have the same meanings as those generally understoodby those with ordinary knowledge in the field of art to which thepresent invention belongs. Such terms as those defined in a generallyused dictionary are to be interpreted to have the meanings equal to thecontextual meanings in the relevant field of art, and are not to beinterpreted to have ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearlydefined in the present application.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described belowin more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order tofacilitate an overall understanding in describing the present invention,the same elements in the drawings are referred to by the same referencenumerals, and redundant descriptions of the same elements will beomitted.

FIG. 1 is as block diagram showing the configuration of a multilayerparallax barrier-based 3D display device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional multilayer parallax barrier-based3D display device controls the viewing distance and viewing angle of aglassless 3D display by bonding a multilayer parallax barrier 120 ontoan LCD panel 110 and driving only the barrier 121 corresponding to theviewing distance of a viewer 160 and turning off the remaining barriers.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multilayer parallax barrier-based 3D displaydevice may include a measurement unit 150 for measuring the distancebetween the viewer 160 and the display, the lateral position of theviewer 160 with respect to the display, and tilting of the face, abarrier control unit 140 for selecting and controlling a target parallaxbarrier by using a measured signal, a driving circuit 130 for drivingthe barrier according to a signal from the barrier control unit 140, amultilayer parallax barrier 120, and an LCD panel 110. The measurementunit 150 may employ a measurement sensor and a camera in order tomeasure the distance and lateral position of the display with respect tothe viewer. The measurement sensor and the camera may include typicalsensors and cameras, including an IR sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, alaser sensor, a 2D camera, a stereocamera, etc. The barrier control unit140 selects a target parallax barrier 121 from the multilayer parallaxbarrier 120 using position information of the viewer received from themeasurement unit 150, such as distance, lateral position, etc. accordingto a barrier design method. The driving circuit 130 drives on theselected barrier 121 to turn it on and turn the remaining barriers off.

However, the multilayer parallax barrier-based 3D display devicerequires a multiple parallax barrier in order to continuously controlthe operation of the 3D display according to a change in the position ofthe user with respect to the display, and this makes the manufacturingdifficult and incurs high cost.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a 3D display device based on a dual layerparallax barrier according to the conventional art. That is, FIG. 2depicts a structure for realizing a glassless 3D display using a duallayer parallax barrier (DLPB), which is one of multilayer parallaxbarrier methods.

As shown in FIG. 2, a TFT-LCD 210 may be a typical display forreproducing an image in units of pixels, and a TN-LCD 220 constitutes aparallax barrier to separate light transmitted through the left andright eyes. As shown in FIG. 2, the double layer parallax barrier 220may include a first parallax barrier layer (1st PB layer) 223 and 224and a second parallax barrier (2nd PB layer). Each layer consists of twopairs of transparent electrodes made of indium tin oxide (ITO) and isapplied with a driving voltage.

Light actually generated from the TFT-LCD 210 by reproducing a 3D imageis blocked or transmitted by liquid crystals of the TN-LCD 220. TheTN-LCD 220 may operate as Normally Black in which liquid crystalstransmit light when a voltage having a predetermined level is applied tothe transparent electrodes (and otherwise blocks light when no voltageis applied) and Normally White in which liquid crystals transmit lightwhen no voltage is applied (and otherwise blocks light when a voltage isapplied). As shown in FIG. 2, a driving unit 230 is a circuit forproviding a driving voltage to two layers of parallax barriers based onthe position and distance of the viewer, which is connected to thetransparent electrodes 221, 222, 223, and 224 by electrodes s1, s2, s3,and s4.

FIG. 3 shows the state of the dual layer parallax barrier of FIG. 2according to a driving voltage applied according to the conventionalart. The dual layer parallax barrier of FIG. 3 shows the statetransition of the dual layer parallax barrier according to a drivingvoltage applied by the driving unit 310, in the case of Normally Whiteliquid crystals transmit light when no voltage is applied (and otherwiseblocks light when a voltage is applied).

The voltages applied in the first state (state 1) 320 and the thirdstate (state 3) 330 are as in the following Table 1.

TABLE 1 DLPB operating state Driving Circuit Operation State 1 s1-s2:apply driving voltage Vd1 State 3 s3-s4: apply driving voltage Vd3

The first state (state 1) 320 is formed when the driving unit 310applies a driving voltage Vd1 having a predetermined level and frequencybetween the electrode s1 and the electrode s2. That is, the first state(state 1) 320 indicates the operation of the second parallax barrierlayer 221 and 222. The third state (state 3) 330 is formed when thedriving unit 310 applies a driving voltage Vd3 having a predeterminedlevel and frequency between the electrode s3 and the electrode s4. Thatis, the third state (state 3) 330 indicates the operation of the firstparallax barrier layer 223 and 224.

The above-described conventional dual layer parallax barrier-based 3Ddisplay device has only two types of state transition including thefirst state and the third state, even if the dual layer parallax barrieroperates by the operation of the driving circuit according to theviewer's position and viewing distance. Hence, the viewer has no choicebut to view a discontinuous stereoscopic image according to position andviewing distance. That is, there is a disadvantage that the viewer canview a stereoscopic image only at a specific position and a viewingdistance.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a segmented dual layer parallaxbarrier-based 3D display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. The segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based3D display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may make use of a segmented dual layer parallax barrier inorder to provide a more continuous glassless stereoscopic imageaccording to a change in the viewer's position or viewing distance byincreasing the number of operating states of the dual layer parallaxbarrier.

As shown in FIG. 4, the segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3Ddisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention includes an image panel 410, a dual layer parallax barrier420, and a driving unit 430.

The image panel 410 may display a left image and a right image so as toalternately display a left-image column and a right-image column. Asshown in FIG. 4, a left image and a right image can be simultaneouslydisplayed on an image panel by alternately displaying a left-imagecolumn L and a right-image column R.

The image panel 410 may be one of the following: a liquid crystaldisplay LCD, a light emitting diode display LED, an organic lightemitting diode display OLED, a plasma display panel PDP, and anelectroluminescent display (EL). That is, the image panel 410 refers,but not limited, to a general display device for reproducing an image inunits of pixels.

Although the parallax barrier 420 may consist of two layers like theconventional parallax barrier, a transparent electrode may be dividedinto a wider variety of types and connected to a corresponding number ofelectrodes. That is, the dual layer parallax barrier 420 may include afirst common electrode s8, a second common electrode s5, a plurality offirst individual electrodes s6, a plurality of second individualelectrodes s2, a plurality of segmented electrodes, and a liquid crystallayer 425. The segmented electrodes may include a first segmentedelectrode s3, a second segmented electrode s1, a third segmentedelectrode s7, and a fourth segmented electrode s4. However, thesegmented electrodes are not necessarily restricted to these four types,but may vary in the number of types. In this specification, thedescription will be made on an example in which the segmented electrodescome in four types including the first segmented electrode s3 throughthe fourth segmented electrode s4.

The dual layer parallax barrier 420 can block a specific part of animage displayed by the image panel 410 based on the electrodes andliquid crystal layer.

More specifically, the left image and right image reproduced by theimage panel 410 are properly blocked by the dual layer parallax barrier420 controlled by the driving unit 430 based on the viewer's positionand distance with respect to the screen so that both eyes of the viewercan view only the left image and the right image, separately.Accordingly, the viewer can view a 3D image.

The dual layer parallax barrier 420 may be characterized in that itoperates as Normally White in which the liquid crystal layer 425 blockslight when a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes (andotherwise transmits light when no voltage is applied), or it operates asNormally Black in which the liquid crystal layer 425 transmits lightwhen a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes (and otherwiseblocks light when no voltage is applied). The above-mentionedcharacteristic can be determined according to the type of liquidcrystals used for the liquid crystal layer 425. The above-mentionedcharacteristics of liquid crystals should be taken into account in orderto properly control the parallax barrier 420 in consideration of theviewer's distance and position with respect to the screen.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the dual layer parallax barrier 420 ischaracterized in that the first common electrode s8 and the secondcommon electrode s5 are positioned on the outermost portions of oppositesides with respect to the liquid crystal layer 425, the plurality offirst individual electrodes s6 are positioned on the opposite side ofthe first common electrode s8 with respect to the liquid crystal layer425, and the plurality of second individual electrodes s2 are positionedon the opposite side of the second common electrode s5 with respect tothe liquid crystal layer 425.

The dual layer parallax barrier 420 is characterized in that the firstsegmented electrode s3 is positioned at the left side of the firstindividual electrodes s6, the second segmented electrode s1 ispositioned at the right side of the first individual electrodes s6, thethird segmented s7 is positioned at the left side of the secondindividual electrodes s2, and the fourth segmented electrode s4 ispositioned at the right side of the second individual electrodes s2.

The driving unit 430 can drive the electrodes based on the distancebetween the image panel 410 and the viewer so as to allow the viewer toview a left image and a right image, separately. While the conventionaldual layer parallax barrier-based 3D display device is capable ofdriving either the first parallax barrier or the second parallaxbarrier, the segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention cansimultaneously drive part of the common electrodes, individualelectrodes, and segmented electrodes, thereby generating four types ofstate transitions.

FIG. 5 shows the state of the dual layer parallax barrier of FIG. 4according to a driving voltage applied according to an exemplarembodiment of the present invention, in the case that the method oftransmitting light by liquid crystals when no voltage is applied isemployed.

In the case of Normally White in which Normally White in which liquidcrystals transmit light when no voltage is applied (and otherwise blockslight when a voltage is applied), a total of four types of operatingstate transitions can occur, as shown in FIG. 5, according to a drivingvoltage applied according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The driving electrodes corresponding to the first state(state 1) 510, the second state (state 2) 520, the third state (state 3)530, and the fourth state (state 4) 540 are as shown in the followingTable 2.

TABLE 2 DLPB operating state Driving Circuit Operation State 1 s7-s5,s2-s5: apply driving voltage Vd State 2 s2-s5, s4-s5: apply drivingvoltage Vd State 3 s6-s8, s3-s8: apply driving voltage Vd State 4 s6-s8,s1-s8: apply driving voltage Vd

The first state (state 1) 510 occurs formed when the driving unit 430applies a driving voltage between the second common electrode s5 and thethird segmented electrode s7 and applies a driving voltage between thesecond common electrode s5 and the second individual electrode s2.

The second state (state 2) 520 occurs when the driving unit 430 appliesa driving voltage between the second common electrode s5 and the secondindividual electrode s2 and applies a driving voltage between the secondcommon electrode s5 and the fourth segmented electrode s4.

The third state (state 3) 530 occurs when the driving unit 430 applies adriving voltage between the first common electrode s8 and the firstsegmented electrode s3 and applies a driving voltage between the firstcommon electrode s8 and the first individual electrodes s6.

The fourth state (state 4) 540 occurs when the driving unit 430 appliesa driving voltage between the first common electrode s8 and the firstindividual electrodes s6 and applies a driving voltage between the firstcommon electrode s8 and the second segmented electrode s1.

As seen from above, a total of four types of state transitions may beinduced by applying a driving voltage to part of the common electrodes,individual electrodes, and segmented electrodes, and therefore variousstate transitions may occur compared to the conventional dual layerparallax barrier-based 3D display device, only with the addition ofsegmented electrodes. Accordingly, the viewer can view a 3D image whichis more continuous and not restricted by position and distance, withoutadditional costs.

Meanwhile, in the case of Normally black as well in which liquidcrystals block light when no voltage is applied (and otherwise transmitlight when a voltage is applied), four types of state transitions mayoccur by properly driving part of the common electrodes, individualelectrodes, and segmented electrodes.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based3D display method according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based3D display method according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, an image panel may display a left image and a right image soas to alternately display a left-image column and a right-image column(S610). The image panel may be one of the following: a liquid crystaldisplay LCD, a light emitting diode display LED, an organic lightemitting diode display OLED, a plasma display panel PDP, and anelectroluminescent display (EL). That is, the image panel refers, butnot limited, to a general display device for reproducing an image inunits of pixels.

Afterwards, a driving unit may drive electrodes of a dual layer parallaxbarrier based on the distance between the image panel and the viewer sothat the viewer can view the left image and the right image, separately(S620). The dual layer parallax barrier may include a first commonelectrode, a second common electrode, a plurality of first individualelectrodes, a plurality of second individual electrodes, a plurality ofsegmented electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer. The segmentedelectrodes may include a first segmented electrode, a second segmentedelectrode, a third segmented electrode, and a fourth segmentedelectrode.

The dual layer parallax barrier is characterized in that the firstcommon electrode and the second common electrode are positioned on theoutermost portions of opposite sides with respect to the liquid crystallayer, the plurality of first individual electrodes are positioned onthe opposite side of the first common electrode with respect to theliquid crystal layer, and the plurality of second individual electrodesare positioned on the opposite side of the second common electrode withrespect to the liquid crystal layer.

The dual layer parallax barrier is characterized in that the firstsegmented electrode is positioned at the left side of the firstindividual electrodes, the second segmented electrode is positioned atthe right side of the first individual electrodes, the third segmentedelectrode is positioned at the left side of the second individualelectrodes, and the fourth segmented electrode is positioned at theright side of the second individual electrodes.

The dual layer parallax barrier may operate as Normally White in whichthe liquid crystal layer blocks light when a voltage is applied to theelectrodes. When it operates as Normally White, the step S620 ofoperating the electrodes involves, in the first state, applying adriving voltage between the second common electrode and the thirdsegmented electrode, and applying a driving voltage between the secondcommon electrode and the second individual electrodes.

When it operates as Normally White, the step S620 of operating theelectrodes involves, in the second state, applying a driving voltagebetween the second common electrode and the second individualelectrodes, and applying a driving voltage between the second commonelectrode and the fourth segmented electrode.

When it operates as Normally White, the step S620 of operating theelectrodes involves, in the third state, applying a driving voltagebetween the first common electrode and the first segmented electrode,and applying a driving voltage between the first common electrode andthe first individual electrodes.

When it operates as Normally White, the step S620 of operating theelectrodes involves, in the fourth state, applying a driving voltagebetween the first common electrode and the first individual electrodes,and applying a driving voltage between the first common electrode andthe second segmented electrode.

Meanwhile, in the case of Normally black as well in which liquidcrystals block light when no voltage is applied (and otherwise transmitlight when a voltage is applied), four types of state transitions mayoccur by properly driving part of the common electrodes, individualelectrodes, and segmented electrodes.

When the electrodes are driven according to the control of the drivingunit, the dual layer parallax barrier including the first commonelectrode, the second common electrode, the plurality of firstindividual electrodes, the plurality of second individual electrodes,the plurality of segmented electrodes, and the liquid crystal layerblocks specific portions of the displayed images (S630), and this allowsthe viewer to view the left image and the right image, separately,thereby viewing a 3D image.

Concrete characteristics of the segmented dual layer parallaxbarrier-based 3D display according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention are based on the above-described segmented dualparallax barrier-based 3D display according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

1. A segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D display device, the3D display device comprising: an image panel that displays a left imageand a right image so as to alternately display a left-image column and aright-image column; a dual layer parallax barrier that includes a firstcommon electrode, a second common electrode, a plurality of firstindividual electrodes, a plurality of second individual electrodes, aplurality of segmented electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer, andblocks specific portions of the displayed images; and a driving unitthat drives the electrodes based on the distance between the image paneland the viewer so as to allow the viewer to view the left image and theright image, separately.
 2. The segmented dual layer parallaxbarrier-based 3D display device of claim 1, wherein the segmentedelectrodes comprise a first segmented electrode, a second segmentedelectrode, a third segmented electrode, and a fourth segmentedelectrode.
 3. The segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the dual layer parallax barrier operates asNormally White in which the liquid crystal layer blocks light when avoltage is applied to the electrodes.
 4. The segmented dual layerparallax barrier-based 3D display device of claim 1, wherein the duallayer parallax barrier operates as Normally Black in which the liquidcrystal layer transmits light when a voltage is applied to theelectrodes.
 5. The segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3Ddisplay device of claim 3, wherein the driving unit, in the first state,applies a driving voltage between the second common electrode and thethird segmented electrode, and applies a driving voltage between thesecond common electrode and the second individual electrodes.
 6. Thesegmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D display device of claim3, wherein the driving unit, in the second state, applies a drivingvoltage between the second common electrode and the second individualelectrodes, and applies a driving voltage between the second commonelectrode and the fourth segmented electrodes.
 7. The segmented duallayer parallax barrier-based 3D display device of claim 3, wherein thedriving unit, in the third state, applies a driving voltage between thefirst common electrode and the first segmented electrode, and applies adriving voltage between the first common electrode and the firstindividual electrodes.
 8. The segmented dual layer parallaxbarrier-based 3D display device of claim 3, wherein the driving unit, inthe fourth state, applies a driving voltage between the first commonelectrode and the first individual electrodes, and applies a drivingvoltage between the first common electrode and the second segmentedelectrode.
 9. The segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the dual layer parallax barrier ischaracterized in that the first common electrode and the second commonelectrode are positioned on the outermost portions of opposite sideswith respect to the liquid crystal layer, the plurality of firstindividual electrodes are positioned on the opposite side of the firstcommon electrode with respect to the liquid crystal layer, and theplurality of second individual electrodes are positioned on the oppositeside of the second common electrode with respect to the liquid crystallayer.
 10. The segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D displaydevice of claim 9, wherein the dual layer parallax barrier ischaracterized in that the first segmented electrode is positioned at theleft side of the first individual electrodes, the second segmentedelectrode is positioned at the right side of the first individualelectrodes, the third segmented electrode is positioned at the left sideof the second individual electrodes, and the fourth segmented electrodeis positioned at the right side of the second individual electrodes. 11.A segmented dual layer parallax barrier-based 3D display method, themethod comprising: displaying a left image and a right image so as toalternately display a left-image column and a right-image column;driving the electrodes of a dual layer parallax barrier based on thedistance between the image panel and the viewer so as to allow theviewer to view the left image and the right image, separately; blockingspecific portions of the displayed image under the control of thedriving unit by the dual layer parallax barrier that includes a firstcommon electrode, a second common electrode, a plurality of firstindividual electrodes, a plurality of second individual electrodes, aplurality of segmented electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the segmented electrodes comprise a firstsegmented electrode, a second segmented electrode, a third segmentedelectrode, and a fourth segmented electrode.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein the dual layer parallax barrier operates as Normally White inwhich the liquid crystal layer blocks light when a voltage is applied tothe electrodes.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein dual layer parallaxbarrier operates as Normally Black in which the liquid crystal layertransmits light when a voltage is applied to the electrodes.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, wherein, in the driving of the electrodes, in thefirst state, a driving voltage is applied between the second commonelectrode and the third segmented electrode, and a driving voltage isapplied between the second common electrode and the second individualelectrodes.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein, in the driving of theelectrodes, in the second state, a driving voltage is applied betweenthe second common electrode and the second individual electrodes, and adriving voltage is applied between the second common electrode and thefourth segmented electrodes.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein, in thedriving of the electrodes, in the third state, a driving voltage isapplied between the first common electrode and the first segmentedelectrode, and a driving voltage is applied between the first commonelectrode and the first individual electrodes.
 18. The method of claim14, wherein, in the driving of the electrodes, in the fourth state, adriving voltage is applied between the first common electrode and thefirst individual electrodes, and a driving voltage is applied betweenthe first common electrode and the second segmented electrode.
 19. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the dual layer parallax barrier ischaracterized in that the first common electrode and the second commonelectrode are positioned on the outermost portions of opposite sideswith respect to the liquid crystal layer, the plurality of firstindividual electrodes are positioned on the opposite side of the firstcommon electrode with respect to the liquid crystal layer, and theplurality of second individual electrodes are positioned on the oppositeside of the second common electrode with respect to the liquid crystallayer.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the dual layer parallaxbarrier is characterized in that the first segmented electrode ispositioned at the left side of the first individual electrodes, thesecond segmented electrode is positioned at the right side of the firstindividual electrodes, the third segmented electrode is positioned atthe left side of the second individual electrodes, and the fourthsegmented electrode is positioned at the right side of the secondindividual electrodes.